New Nintendo 3DS US Release Date Coming Next Month, According To Leaked Flyer

A leaked flyer confirms a new 3DS is coming next month. Photo: Courtesy/NeoGAF/user/vinnygambini

Nintendo’s new 3DS portable gaming console is expected to be announced for launch in North America on Thursday, and rumors suggest the device will reach buyers on Feb. 13. A leaked flyer from GameStop that appeared on gaming forum NeoGAF on Tuesday shows the new 3DS XL in red alongside the Nintendo game “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.”

This is just a rumor, but a report from fan site Gamnesia also suggests Feb. 13 as the release date for the new 3DS.

The multinational gaming corporation will launch the new Nintendo 3DS in two models, one similar in dimension to the 3DS and one similar in size to the larger 3DS XL device. They will cost $154 and $180 respectively.

The new 3DS and 3DS XL devices were announced last August. Both consoles reached Japan in October 2014, launching in New Zealand and Australia a month later.

The second analog stick on the devices is tiny, more like a nub, and sits above the device's X, A, B and Y buttons, which are colored blue, red, yellow and green, much like the controller of the newer model of the Super Nintendo.

The CPU for the new 3DS devices are stronger than current models', giving players quicker download speeds and a swifter browsing session from eShop. The new handhelds will also have built-in NFC (near field communication) for the company’s upcoming Amiibo toy line. Nintendo also promises gamers improved graphics and Micro SD card support.

Earlier this month, some Club Nintendo members in Europe received an email giving them exclusive early-buying access to the upcoming limited-edition New 3DS bundle, the 3DS Ambassador Edition. The bundle will come with an exclusive Ambassador Edition back cover, a charging cradle and “Super Smash Bros.”-themed cover plates for the handheld device’s front and back. The bundle will retail for 200 euros or 180 pounds, or about $273. Nintendo hasn’t revealed whether the Ambassador Edition will be coming to the U.S.